The West and its allies aren't silently watching the Sudan conflict, they may be making it worse

The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April last year between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has plunged the nation into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Over 11.6 million people have been displaced, including 3.1 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

Yet, despite these staggering figures, the international response remains strikingly inadequate.

The United Nations has repeatedly called for ceasefires and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, but these appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.

A lack of coordinated international engagement has hampered relief efforts, compounding the misery of millions.

Agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warn of famine and the collapse of healthcare infrastructure, but chronic underfunding and logistical hurdles have rendered these warnings unheeded.

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A scathing July 2024 report by the International Crisis Group condemned the apathy of major global powers, particularly Western nations. Distracted by other crises, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict, they have largely neglected Sudan’s unfolding tragedy.

But that inaction isn’t all. Weapon components from the West and its allies are also making the situation worse.

A spotlight on arms transfers

Recently, Amnesty International pointed out that advanced weaponry from United Arab Emirates (UAE) with key parts from France, was being transferred to the RSF.

According to the rights group, Nimr Ajban armored personnel carriers (APCs), manufactured in the UAE and equipped with French-made Galix defense systems, have been deployed by the RSF in conflict zones, including Darfur.

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The Galix system, designed to shield vehicles from threats using smoke and decoy projectiles, is manufactured by France’s Lacroix Defense.

Verified photographs of these vehicles in active combat zones suggest that their deployment could constitute a violation of the United Nations arms embargo, which prohibits weapon transfers to Sudan.

Despite these findings, the UAE categorically denies providing any military support to the RSF or other belligerent factions, instead framing the accusations as a “disinformation campaign.”

France’s Lacroix Defense, the manufacturer of the Galix reactive defence system, is treading a thin line.

By asserting that the systems were supplied to the Emirati Armed Forces “in strict compliance” with export licenses and end-user agreements, the company is effectively washing its hands of responsibility for how the systems are ultimately used.

Old dog, old tricks

This issue isn’t unique to France or the UAE. Similar patterns have been observed in arms exports from Western nations to the Middle East and Africa.

Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia have all faced accusations of indirectly fuelling conflicts through arms deals with allies who later transfer these weapons to unintended recipients. Reports from SIPRI have corroborated this in the past.

While allegations continue to build up, Western nations remain seated on their moral high ground, almost hypocritically preaching peace while companies based on their territories profit off of propelling humanitarian disasters.

With inouts from agencies